War in the Middle East
Why a deal between Iran and the USA is so difficult
Updated June 13, 2026 – 5:51 amReading time: 5 minutes
Hopes for an agreement between the USA and Iran are growing. But is it also justified? And why are the negotiations between the warring parties actually so complicated?
After much back and forth around an agreement between Iran and the USA, a deal seems to be within reach. According to mediator Pakistan, representatives from Washington and Tehran have agreed on an agreement. Both US President Donald Trump and the leadership in Iran had previously signaled that an agreement was close to being concluded. But what should it contain – and could the preliminary compromise really lead to an end to the war?
What is known about the current status of negotiations?
A so-called framework agreement to end the war between Iran and the USA is currently being discussed, which could be the starting point for in-depth negotiations within a time frame of 60 days.
According to Trump, the agreement provides for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is important for global trade in oil, gas and fertilizer. According to media reports, this step should be completed within 30 days – and in return, according to Trump, the US naval blockade of Iranian ports will be lifted.
According to a senior US official, the agreement should also lead to the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program – and the United States receiving the enriched uranium that could otherwise theoretically be used to build nuclear weapons, as not only Israel’s government fears. The material should be rendered harmless on site and then taken out of the country, the US official explained.
According to the US statement, Tehran has also agreed to stop funding terrorist groups in the region. The agreement should also state that Iran’s territorial sovereignty will be respected.
Frozen Iranian assets abroad could be released – but, according to government circles in Washington, not immediately with the signing of a framework agreement. Rather, such steps, like easing sanctions, would only take place once Tehran has provided appropriate compensation.
Iran is keeping quiet about the content of the possible agreement. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi only confirmed that a deal was within reach. “Until it is finalized, the media should refrain from speculating about its content,” he added. The Iranians hardly see the USA as a reliable negotiating partner anymore – and the same applies vice versa.
What role does the Iranian nuclear program play?
One of the most difficult points of contention in the negotiations is Iran’s nuclear program and the question of what to do with the country’s uranium stocks. Iran reportedly has more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium that could be relatively easily converted into weapons-grade material.
The political leadership of the Islamic Republic asserts that it is not seeking nuclear weapons. However, Israel’s government does not believe these assurances and sees the Jewish state’s existence threatened by its archenemy. In recent years there have also been fears in other countries and within the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran is approaching the point at which it could produce nuclear weapons.
